How super corals could help save our reefs

Coral reefs are magic underwater worlds that support 25 percent of all marine life. But climate change is threatening to wipe them out. Now scientists and conservationists around the world are racing to toughen coral reefs up. Is that enough to save these vital ecosystems?

We're destroying our environment at an alarming rate. But it doesn't need to be this way. Our new channel Planet A explores the shift towards an eco-friendly world — and challenges our ideas about what dealing with climate change means. We look at the big and the small: What we can do and how the system needs to change. Every Friday we'll take a truly global look at how to get us out of this mess.

#PlanetA #CoralReefs #CoralBleaching

Reporter: Adam Levy
Camera: Marco Borowski
Video Editor: David Jacobi, Adam Levy
Supervising Editor: Malte Rohwer-Kahlmann, Joanna Gottschalk

Read more:
These corals could survive climate change — and help save the world's reefs:

A Decision Framework for Interventions to Increase the Persistence and Resilience of Coral Reefs:

IPCC Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5 ºC:

Special thanks for background interview:
Steve Palumbi, Stanford University

00:00 Intro
00:49 Magic underwater worlds
01:36 Corals under threat
03:41 How to protect coral reefs
04:47 Can we toughen up coral reefs?
06:46 Is that enough?

[DWPlanetA]

How do you feel about our coral reefs dying?

[alexm]

Not to forget that what type of sunscreen we use has a huge impact on corals too. That’s why Hawaii for example startet banning certain ingredients.

[lightyearahead]

These scientists are the real saviours of this world.

[aurorajones]

The sad thing is species have been dying on this rock for millions of years. We are creating an imbalance all by our little selves. Thats amazing. It means we can fix it. At the end of the day we are not worried about them. We worry about us existing w/ out them. I hope this all works out. Love the concept.

[andydutton]

Corals are amazing but if people don't live anywhere near them they are not thought about much.

[Lwah]

I been going to Cozumel Mexico with my best friend for over 30 years..at first it was sporadicly then about 20 years ago I was able to go yearly and the last 3 years or so I’ve gone twice yearly. We just went over Christmas and we were shocked at how many of the coral we see regularly along the shore had turned white. That scared me because we had been there in March and don’t recall seeing anything, I was heartbroken 💔. We haven’t been out to the deep reefs..the Columbian reef and the Palancar reef for a few years because we don’t dive. We’ve decided that the next time we go we’ll take a tour out and see how it looks. I pray that they are still healthy but don’t have a lot of hope. This beautiful island relies on tourism and we have gotten to know many of the locals so it’s hard when you know the people that are affected by these disasters. The vast difference in tourism from even 30 years ago to now is insane, on one hand I would like it to go back to the quieter island but on the other hand I am happy for the residents to have this income, for the reefs sake I would lone it to go back to the way it was.

[rayrocher]

Thanks for saving and working to save coral reefs amen 💖🙏

[rehanrai]

It's so sad that because of us other creatures are going extinct . Hats off to all the men and women who is trying their best to save them

[shaunaburton]

Coral is amazing! Climate Adam sent me.

[davidbluestein]

2 years ago, I got my first betta fish. I fell in love with fish keeping instantly and soon upgraded from a 5g to a 10g, then a 20g, then a 29g. I eventually got my first reef tank and I knew instantly that this was my calling. I decided I wanted to start working with fish and coral preservation in the future. I planned out the steps to get there and although it’s a long journey, I’ve already taken my first step by working with coral at a fish store to learn more! Even though it’s a depressing science, coral is so vital for the future of the world and would be terrible to loose their beauty.

[MarceloFernandezMusic]

Coral reefs can be so interesting, thanks for the great video! 👏👏

[klug]

I find it depressing that a few individuals, who possess billions, could with a fraction of their fortune (not here to discuss economics and the legitimity of it), make all the research easy and worldwide, as well as financing all the local action. But no, this money stays locked in a bank account and creates only percentage of revenue.
So sad, as the crisis is so happening now.
Anyway, thank you for this video!

[thezenarcher]

maybe a stupid question, but logically shouldn't there also be new areas with water the right temperature for reefs? (i.e. areas that were previously too cold)

[TomGD]

Let's hope this project may help save these reefs from dying, I'm in support for coral genetic engineering which help these animals compact heat.

[oceanbroz]

So awsome that you guys did this video!! Lots of people don't know what lies bellow the ocean surface and how importand corals are.

[PenkoAngelov]

Simple solution - STOP burning fossil fuels!

[JacindaH]

Is flying tourists in airplanes, transporting them in cars and serving everything via plastic containers really helping? How many corals die from one person's visit? The very people who claim to want to save these reefs are also contributing to their decline. It's a multifaceted issue, yet they demand less emissions while literally flying people in on something that burns more fuel per second than literally anything else. Or the targeting of the beef industry while the same people own large numbers of pets.
It's easy to demand better of everyone else as long as you're still getting paid. The hypocrisy is mind numbing.

[rogerumberto]

Its good to save the planet that's why when we have concentrated brine we go to the nearest reef and dumping it there, I hope the corals will benefit from those nutritious brine. For mother Earth we'll continue this till she is cured 😌😌😌

[tenani]

You know what also could save our reefs?

Stop burning fossil fuel, imagine that.

[kalemat]

Very beautiful video thank you for sharing New friend here